DVD Reviews | In revisionist tale, Scottish princess answers to no one

Tuesday

Nov 13, 2012 at 12:01 AMNov 13, 2012 at 2:17 PM

Declaring early that she will be nobody's queen but her own, Merida - the flame-tressed Scottish princess at the heart of this quest - is completely on trend within a spate of revisionist fairy tales.

Brave

PG, $29.99

Declaring early that she will be nobodyís queen but her own, Merida ó the flame-tressed Scottish princess at the heart of this quest ó is completely on trend within a spate of revisionist fairy tales.

After dispatching her suitors at an archery competition, Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) embarks on an adventure that pivots around her fractured relationship with her mom.

As refreshing as it is to see family dynamics, rather than romance, define the fulcrum of the story, the tale that unfolds isnít the most sophisticated of the Pixar canon. The elements of the film seem strangely by-the-book for a studio that avoids the book. The film contains some scary action and rude humor.

2 Days in New York

R, $26.98

French actress Julie Delpy starred as New York-based French photographer Marion in 2 Days in Paris (2007), in which she takes boyfriend Jack (Adam Goldberg) on a disastrous sojourn to France to meet her family. Take 2 Days in Paris, swap Goldberg for Chris Rock, corral the whole clan in New York and the result is a manic but frustrating sequel.

The film takes Marionís family to Manhattan, where she lives with her new boyfriend, talk-show host Mingus (Rock); Mingusí daughter; and Marionís son from her relationship with Jack.Marionís family invades their snug apartment with a vengeance, swiftly pushing Marion and Mingus to the outer limits of sanity.

Marion is just as magnetic as before, and watching her come apart at the seams is one of the chief joys of the film. But the downward spiral of her mental state is cheapened by a final sexist twist.

The film contains nudity, sexual references, illicit drug use and profanity.

The Watch

R, $29.98

The premise of the movie is so goofy, the performances so winningly wacky, that a willing suspension of disbelief has rarely been easier.

As The Watch opens, Evan (Ben Stiller) explains in a voice-over why he is so happy in the suburban idyll of Glenview, Ohio ó where he lives with his wife, Abby (Rosemarie DeWitt), manages a nearby Costco and pursues a devotion to civic engagement that borders on the obsessive.

When one of his night watchmen is killed on the job, Evan immediately organizes a group to prevent further attacks. Soon, Evan is joined by Bob (Vince Vaughn), Franklin (Jonah Hill) and Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade) in a bumbling series of encounters with an unseen foe.

The film includes strong sexual content, pervasive profanity and violent images.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.